1 Peter 1:13-25 is a letter written to the Christians in the world to encourage them even through persecution because of their faith. In chapter one he speaks about salvation of our souls, 

1 Peter 1:9 says “For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” The second part of salvation comes when the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is here. In 1:5 it says “who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” The salvation of our bodies, the end of our suffering. 

1 Peter 1:1-12 gives reasons to live joyfully even in the midst of troubled times. Verse 13 onwards highlights the responsibilities we have as Christians so that we may see our duties clearly. “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” We must be alert and prepared with self control for action at any moment, to wait for the second coming and to receive His grace. 1 Peter 1:7; “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” These are the things we will receive when we set our hope on the prize. We must be ready to face suffering and persecution with a specific attitude clearly and constantly in mind and remember that the gifts of God are worth any sacrifice in our mortal lives, as written in Romans 8:18;  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 

1 Peter 1:14; “14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” Peter urges us to not allow our sinful nature to dominate and control us, as Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Self indulgence is a characteristic of those who are ignorant of God, so we must be obedient and avoid it. 1 Peter 1:15 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;” We must set ourselves apart from sin like in Romans 8:29-30; “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Peter elaborates about the calling in 1 Peter 2:9; “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 2:21; “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 3:9; “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 5:10; “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Peter is telling us to be Holy in whatever we do, for it is written; (1 Pe 1:16) “Be holy, because I am holy.” This teaching was also mentioned in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:2) “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” God’s Holiness is also referenced in Leviticus chapter 20:7 where it talks about sin (“‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God.”) Israel was to be Holy so that she could have intimate fellowship with God.  We cannot expect to enjoy our relationship with God, who is Holy, unless we are Holy as well. How can you communicate and get along with someone when you are so different from one another? If you do not obey God’s words and lack communication with Him how can we have good fellowship with Him? Because He is Holy, we must also be Holy. In Philippians 3:8 it says; “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” 

So Peter 1:13-25 speaks about how to be Holy, and the first step is to be obedient children.

The second way to live a joyous life starts from 1 Peter 1:17, to live a life of reverence. “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” In Romans 14:10-12 it says; “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;every tongue will acknowledge God.’” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” This is the time when we will give God a report of the things we have done and receive our judgement. In 2 Corinthians 5:10 it is written; “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” We are to be strangers in this world, for it is a temporary home until we get to heaven. 1 Peter 1:17 says to live in reverent fear, and the reason is in Hebrews 12:29, “for our “God is a consuming fire.” I know that our God is faithful, loving and good, but He is also a consuming fire, and we must keep that in mind and keep in step with the spirit so that we do not lose His patience, for he judges us impartially. We are judged by our behaviour, and since we must all stand before God for an evaluation of our works, we should live accordingly. 

1 Peter 1:18 says; “18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,” We were not redeemed for free, and it comes with a price that is paid by you or someone else. Perishable things like silver or gold is not acceptable as payment, so what is? 1 Peter 1:19; ”with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Jesus Christ is imperishable, and His life, represented by His blood, is indefinitely more valuable than anything we can offer. Since our redemption has already been paid for, we must remember to abide by God’s will for us. In 1:20; “He (Jesus Christ) was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” Ephesians 1:4  “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Not only was Jesus Christ chosen before the creation of the world, but us also, so that we may be holy in his sight. 1 Pe 1:21; “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” And so we should live in reverent fear of God and confidence, for we are not depending on human works, but God’s work. 

The third part of how to live a joyous life is to live a life of love, the duty we have to our brothers and sisters. 1 Peter 1:22; “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Purify yourselves in heart and soul by obedience through faith. 1:23; “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” In Luke chapter 8, it writes about the parable of the sower, in which the imperishable seed is the word of God. We are born again through the word of God, no longer perishable. 1 Peter 1:24 says that “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,” All things on earth, no matter how beautiful or strong, will wither in the end, as it is also written in James 1:10-11; “But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” In 1 Pe 1:25, it contrasts the nature of man and the word of God; “but the word of the Lord endures forever.” This verse originally came from Isaiah 40:6-8, an Old Testament teaching. 

Even in the midst of trials and sufferings, we must ready ourselves in spirit and live our lives in Holiness, and to be obedient children. We must live in reverence and have fear and respect for God, and live in love by obeying the truth. By doing all this, we will be able to stand firm and rejoice even during times of suffering. 1 Peter 1:22; “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” The things we do for God would be meaningless if we have not truly purified ourselves and love our brothers and sisters. Do not love superficially, love fiercely and from the heart, so that they know you care about them, and support them especially during times of distress and weakness of heart or faith. Do so by not judging others and not by self righteousness, for only God is righteous and will judge us impartially in the end times. In Deuteronomy 32:35 God told the Israelites; “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” It is not up to us to decide how God will judge them. It is also written in Romans 12:19; “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath” God has His plans for each and every one of us, and is a forgiving and loving God. He gives us time to repent and change our ways so that we can be saved. Be careful what you are taking in spiritually, and remember to study on your own so that you can be sure what you are hearing is God’s word.